Agrotechnical formulation

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an agrotechnical formulation which comprises, in each case based on the total weight of the formulation: 
     a) 20 to 99.9% by weight of at least one cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester of the formula I                    
      in which 
     R 1  is C 1 -C 10 -alkyl or C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl; 
     m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and 
     n is 2, 3 or 4; and 
     R is H or C 1 -C 30 -alkyl, where at least one radical R is C 1 -C 30 -alkyl; 
     b) 0 to 70% by weight of water; 
     c) 0.1 to 60% by weight of at least one adjuvant and/or additive; and 
     d) 0 to 70% by weight of at least one active ingredient for plant treatment.

The present invention relates to an agrotechnical formulation comprisinga cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester.

Plant treatment products are predominantly employed as liquidformulation. As a rule, this is provided as a concentrate, it beingpossible for the concentrate already to comprise activity-enhancingadditives (built-in product). As an alternative, there exist adjuvantswhich can be mixed prior to use with the active ingredient, which ispackaged separately, to give a tank mix (stand-alone product). As arule, formulations of this type comprise an oil phase which frequentlycomprises esters of aliphatic or aromatic mono- or dicarboxylic acidsfor enhancing or guaranteeing the activity. Thus, WO 95/01722 describesa formulation which, besides water and a pesticide, comprises adispersant, a wetter, a thickener and, if appropriate, an organicsolvent, it being possible for the solvent to take the form of, interalia, soya oil or rapeseed oil. WO 95/31898 describes an oil-in-waterformulation comprising a solvent which is selected from among aromaticmono- and dicarboxylic esters, such as phthalic esters, fatty estersderived from vegetable oils, and aliphatic esters of adipic acid,glutaric acid and succinic acid. Phthalic esters have an estrogen-likeaction and are suspected of being able to lead to tumor genesis. DE 2905 122 A discloses liquid emulsifiable herbicide formulations withlinuron as active ingredient comprising dialkyl phthalates,phthalic-acid-alkyd resins, oil-modified phthalic-acid-alkyd resins orterpene phenolic resins as crystallization-inhibiting components. U.S.Pat. No. 4,834,908 describes an oil concentrate comprising a lower alkylester of a C₄-C₂₂-fatty acid, an anionic surfactant and a long-chaincarboxylic acid. SU 537 660 describes a synergistically acting herbicidemixture which can comprise specific solvents, such as dimethyl phthalateor dibutyl phthalate, for spraying.

DE 32 47 050 A describes herbicidal compositions comprising an activeingredient and a synthetic spreading agent, which may take the form of afatty acid ester. WO 92/06596 describes plant treatment products wherethe uptake and transport of the active ingredient is increased by usingan adjuvant, which may take the form of, inter alia, a fatty acid ester.EP 579 052 A describes a plant treatment product comprising, inter alia,an aliphatic dicarboxylic ester for improving the penetrability into thecuticula.

DE 197 01 123 A describes a mixture comprising a dicarboxylic ester ofthe formula ROOC—A—COOR in which R is a C₁-C₂₀-alkyl group and A isalkylidene, alkenylidene, alkynylidene, cycloalkylidene,cycloalkenylidene or phenylene and a product which is obtained byreacting an oil or fat based on a triglyceride of C₂-C₃₀ carboxylicacids with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide in the presence of abase. This mixture makes it possible to reduce the application rates ofplant protectants and/or to increase the spectrum of action of the plantprotectants.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an agrotechnicalformulation in which the application rates of active ingredient(s) andformulation auxiliaries are reduced and/or the activity is improved.Moreover, it is intended that the formulation has toxicologically andecologically advantageous properties.

We have found that this object is achieved by usingcyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters in the formulation.

The present invention therefore relates to an agrotechnical mixture oran agrotechnical formulation comprising:

a) 20 to 99.9% by weight of at least one cyclohexanecarboxylic ester ofthe formula I

 in which R¹ is C₁-C₁₀-alkyl or C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl;

m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

R is C₁-C₃₀-alkyl; and

n is 2, 3 or 4.

b) 0 to 70% by weight of water;

c) 0.1 to 60% by weight of at least one adjuvant and/or additive; and

d) 0 to 70% by weight of at least one active ingredient for planttreatment.

The C₁-C₁₀- and C₁-C₃₀-alkyl groups can be straight-chain or branched.If R¹ is an alkyl group, this preferably takes the form of a C₁-C₈-alkylgroup and, in particular, C₁-C₆-alkyl group. Examples of such an alkylgroup are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl,sec-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and thelike.

R is preferably C₂-C₂₀-alkyl and in particular C₃-C₁₈-alkyl. Examples ofsuch alkyl groups are the alkyl groups stated above for R¹ and alson-nonyl, iso-nonyl, n-decyl, iso-decyl, n-undecyl, iso-undecyl,n-dodecyl, iso-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, iso-tridecyl, stearyl, n-eicosyl,and the like.

Component a):

Examples of cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters which can be used inaccordance with the invention are

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylates, such as, for example, monomethylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, dimethyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate,diethyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-butyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate,di-tert-butyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate,cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid monoglycol ester,cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid diglycol ester, di-n-octylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, diisooctyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate,mono-2-ethylhexyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-nonyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate,diisononyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-decylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, diisodecyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate,diisododecyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate, dicyclohexylcyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate;

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylates, such as, for example, monomethylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, dimethyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate,diethyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, di-n-butyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate,di-tert-butyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate,cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid monoglycol ester,cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid diglycol ester, di-n-octylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, diisooctyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate,di-2-ethylhexyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, di-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate,di-n-decyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, diisodecylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, diisododecylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, dicyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate;

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylates, such as, for example, monomethylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, dimethyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate,diethyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, di-n-butyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate,di-tert-butyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate,cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid monoglycol ester,cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid diglycol ester, di-n-octylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, diisooctyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate,di-2-ethylhexyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, di-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, diisononyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate,di-n-decyl cyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, diisodecylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, diisododecylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate, dicyclohexylcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate.

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylates, such as, for example,monomethyl cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, dimethylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diethylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acidmonoglycol ester, cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid diglycol ester,di-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diisooctylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diisononylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-decylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diisodecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, dicyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, and also trimethylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, triethylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, triisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acidtriglycol ester, tri-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate,triisooctyl cyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, triisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tri-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate, tricyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,4-tricarboxylate.

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylates, such as, for example,monomethyl cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, dimethylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diethylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-butylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diisobutylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acidmonoglycol ester, cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid diglycol ester,di-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diisooctylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diisononylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-decylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diisodecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diisododecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, dicyclohexylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, and also trimethylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, triethylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-n-propylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-n-butylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, triisobutylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acidtriglycol ester, tri-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate,triisooctyl cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, triisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tri-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, tricyclohexylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylate.

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylates, such as, for example,monomethyl cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, dimethylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diethylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acidmonoglycol ester, cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid diglycol ester,di-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diisooctlcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diisononylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-decylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diisodecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, dicyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, and also trimethylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, triethylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, triisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acidtriglycol ester, tri-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate,triisooctyl cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, triisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tri-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, tricyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate.

Alkyl cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylates, such as, for example,monomethyl cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, dimethylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diethylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate,cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid monoglycol ester,cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid diglycol ester, di-n-octylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diisooctlcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diisononylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-decylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diisodecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, diisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, di-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, monocyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, trimethylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, triethylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, triisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, cyclohexane-1,2,3-tricarboxylicacid triglycol ester, tri-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate,triisooctyl cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, triisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, triisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tri-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tricyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, and also tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetraethylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-n-propylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-n-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-tert-butylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetraisobutylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate,cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid tetraglycol ester,tetra-n-octyl cyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetraisooctylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-2-ethylhexylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-n-nonylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetraisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-n-undecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetraisododecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-n-octadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetraisooctadecylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetra-n-eicosylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate, tetracyclohexylcyclohexane-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate.

The cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic esters are especially preferably used,in particular the following:

Di(isopentyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingdi(isopentyl)phthalate with the Chemical Abstracts Registry Number(hereinbelow: CAS No.) 84777-06-0;

Di(isoheptyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingdi(isoheptyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 71888-89-6;

Di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatinga di(isononyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 68515-48-0;

Di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingan n-butene-based di(isononyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 28553-12-0;

Di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingan isobutene-based di(isononyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 28553-12-0;

a 1,2-di-C₉-alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable byhydrogenating a di(nonyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 68515-46-8;

a di(isodecyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable byhydrogenating a di(isodecyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 68515-49-1;

a 1,2-di-C₇₋₁₁-alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable byhydrogenating the corresponding phthalic ester with the CAS No.68515-42-4;

a 1,2-di-C₇₋₁₁-alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid obtainable byhydrogenating the di-C₇₋₁₁-phthalates with the following CAS Nos. 111381-89-6, 111 381 90-9, 111 381 91-0, 68515-44-6, 68515-45-7 and3648-20-7;

a 1,2-di-C₉₋₁₁-alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable byhydrogenating a di-C₉₋₁₁-phthalate with the CAS No. 98515-43-5;

a 1,2-di(isodecyl)cyclohexanedicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatinga di(isodecyl)phthalate, which is mainly composed ofdi-(2-propylheptyl)phthalate;

a 1,2-di-C₇₋₉-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenating thecorresponding phthalic ester, which has branched or linear C₇₋₉-alkylester groups;

Further cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters which can be used are thenuclear hydrogenation products of the commercially availablebenzenecarboxylic esters with the trade names Jayflex DINP (CAS No.68515-48-0), Jayflex DIDP (CAS No. 68515-49-1), Palatinol 9-P, Vestinol9 (CAS No. 28553-12-0), TOTM-I (CAS No. 3319-31-1), Linplast 68-TM andPalatinol N (CAS No. 28553-12-0).

The cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters are known or can be prepared byknown methods. They are generally prepared by subjecting the esters ofthe corresponding benzenepolycarboxylic acids, such as phthalic acid,isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, trimellitic acid, hemimelliticacid, pyromellitic acid or trimesic acid, to ring hydrogenation. Ringhydrogenation methods are known to the skilled worker, for example fromWO 99/32427. The content of this publication is referred to in itsentirety. The esters of the benzenepolycarboxylic acids are obtained inthe customary manner by reacting the alcohols with the acids or theiranhydrides.

The cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters can be used singly or in mixturesof two or more. As a rule, the abovementionedcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic esters take the form of mixtures, theindividual esters differing by the structure of the alcohol residue, forproduction reasons (the number of carbon atoms of the alcohol residuesis generally identical). The cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic esters arepreferably prepared starting from an olefin or a mixture of isomericolefins obtained, for example, by dimerization of an olefin. The olefinor the mixture of isomeric olefins is then subjected to ahydroformylation with CO and H₂ and, if appropriate, a hydrogenation togive the corresponding alcohol, which has one more carbon atom than theolefin. The alcohol is then reacted with phthalic anhydride to give thecorresponding phthalic ester, which is subsequently subjected to ringhydrogenation. The abovementioned olefin dimerization, olefinformylation and olefin hydrogenation are methods which are known to theskilled worker and which are described, for example, in Ullmann'sEncyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. A13, 243 and 406 (1989) andVol. A18 321 (1991).

Di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate is especially preferably usedin the formulations according to the invention. The former is obtainableby butene dimerization starting from a mixture of 1-butene, iso-butene,trans-2-butene and cis-2-butene on a nickel-oxide-containing catalyst.The resulting octene mixture is subjected to hydroformylation with COand H₂ using a cobalt or rhodium catalyst and subsequently tohydrogenation using a customary hydrogenation catalyst, for exampleRaney nickel. In this manner, a mixture of isomeric nonanoles isobtained, which is converted into di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate by reaction with phthalic anhydride andnuclear hydrogenation.

The amount of cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester in the formulationaccording to the invention preferably amounts to 30 to 90% by weight, inparticular to 40 to 80% by weight, based on the total weight of theformulation.

Component b):

The formulation according to the invention can be anhydrous or comprise0.5 to 70% by weight of water. Preferably, the formulation compriseswater, viz. in an amount of 16 to 70% by weight, in particular 20 to 70%by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation. The amount ofwater depends on the formulation chosen.

Component c):

The formulations according to the invention comprise customary adjuvantsand/or additives for the preparation of formulations in the field ofcrop protection. These include, for example, surfactants, dispersants,wetters, thickeners, organic solvents, cosolvents, antifoams, carboxylicacids, preservatives, stabilizers and the like.

Examples of suitable surfactants and dispersants are:

Anionic surfactants, for example alkali, alkaline earth or ammoniumsalts of the fatty acids, such as potassium stearate, alkyl sulfates,alkyl ether sulfates, alkylsulfonates or iso-alkylsulfonates,alkylbenzenesulfonates such as sodium dodecylbenzenelsulfonate,alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, alkyl methyl ester sulfonates, acylglutamates, alkylsulfosuccinates, sarcosinates such as sodium lauroylsarcosinate or taurates,

Cationic surfactants, for example alkyltrimethylammonium halides oralkyltrimethylammonium alkyl sulfates, alkylpyridinium halides ordialkyldimethylammonium halides or dialkyldimethylammonium alkylsulfates,

Nonionic surfactants, for example alkoxylated animal or vegetable fatsand oils such as corn oil ethoxylates, castor oil ethoxylates, talo fatethoxylates, glycerol esters such as glycerol monostearate, fattyalcohol alkoxylates and oxoalcohol alkoxylates, fatty acid alkoxylatessuch as oleic acid ethoxylates, alkylphenol alkoxylates such asisononylphenol ethoxylates, fatty amine alkoxylates, fatty acid amidealkoxylates, sugar surfactants such as sorbitan fatty acid esters(sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan tristearate), polyoxyethylene sorbitanfatty acid esters, alkyl polyglycosides, N-alkylgluconamides,alkylmethyl sulfoxides, alkyldimethylphosphine oxides such astetradecyldimethylphosphine oxide,

Zwitterionic surfactants, for example sulfobetaines, carboxybetaines,alkyldimethylamine oxides such as tetradecyldimethyl amine oxide,

Polymer surfactants, for example di-, tri- or multi-block polymers ofthe (AB)x, ABA and BAB type, such as polyethylene oxide blockpolypropylene oxide, polystyrene block polyethylene oxide, AB combpolymers such as polymethacrylate comb polyethylene oxide orpolyacrylate comb polyethylene oxide,

Perfluoro surfactants, silicone surfactants, phospholipids such aslecithin, amino acid surfactants such as N-lauroylglutamate,surface-active homo- and copolymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone,polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, maleicanhydride/isobutene copolymers, vinypyrrolidone/vinyl acetatecopolymers.

It is preferred to use, as surfactant, one or more uniform or mixedesters of phosphoric acid or diphosphoric acid with polyalkylene oxideethers, the polyalkylene oxide ethers generally only having a singlehydroxyl group (for example Klearfac®, made by BASF Corp.).

Suitable examples of polyalkylene oxide ethers are ethers ofalkylphenols such as nonylphenol or of branched or unbranched aliphaticalcohols, for example having 6 to 30, preferably 10 to 20, carbon atomsand in particular of fatty alcohols having 10 to 12 carbon atoms.

The monohydroxylated polyalkylene oxide ethers are generally known orcan be obtained in a manner known per se, especially by alkoxylation ofthe corresponding alcohols. Preferred alkoxylating agents are ethyleneoxide and propylene oxide, both of which can be reacted singly, in amixture, in succession or alternatingly with a suitable phosphoruscompound, and this may result in alkoxylation products of differentcompositions, for example having block structures.

The preparation of these phosphoric esters is generally known and iscarried out, for example, by reacting the corresponding monofunctionalpolyalkylene oxide ethers with phosphoric acid, diphosphorus pentoxide,polyphosphoric acid or phosphorus oxytrichloride (cf. “NonionicSurfactants”, Martin Schick (Ed.), Marcel Dekker, New York, 1964,Chapter 11, pages 372-394).

The surfactants and/or dispersants can in each case amount to 0 to 40%by weight, preferably 2 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight ofthe formulation.

Examples of wetters which are suitable are, in particular:

Polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block polymers, for example asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,677,700, U.S. Pat. No. 2,674,619 andEP-A-298 909; especially suitable products of this group arecommercially available for example under the name PLURONIC® (BASF AG),Synperonic PE types or Genapol brands;

Polyoxyethylene fatty alcohols or polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene fattyalcohols (for example as disclosed in GB-A 643,422 or Satkowski et al.,Ind. Eng. Chem. 49 (1957) 1875); especially suitable products of thisgroup are commercially available for example under the name Plurafac® LFtypes (BASF AG);

Polyoxyethylene fatty amines or polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene fattyamines, for example as known from Stache, Tensidtaschenbuch [SurfactantsGuide], Carl-Hauser-Verlag Munich, Vienna, 2nd Edition, p. 133;especially suitable products of this group are commercially availablefor example under the names ATPLUS® (Uniqema) and ETHOMEEN® (Akzo);

Fatty acid esters or fatty acid ester ethoxylates, for example asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,914,100; especially suitable products ofthis group are commercially available for example under the namesARLACEL®, ATMER®, ATMOS® and ATPET®;

Polyoxyethylene oxyalcohols or polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropyleneoxyalcohols, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,035, U.S.Pat. No. 2,508,036, U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,830; especially suitableproducts of this group are commercially available for example under thenames LUTENSOL AT®, AO®, ON®, and LUTENSOL TO® (BASF AG);

Polyoxyethylene alkylphenols or polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylenealkylphenols, for example as disclosed in FR-A 842 943; especiallysuitable products of this group are commercially available for exampleunder the name LUTENSOL AP® (BASF). Furthermore, for example alsopolyethlyene glycol (PEG) alkyd resins, such as, for example, Atlox 4914(by Uniqema) or for example a polyhydroxystearic acid/polyethylene oxideblock polymer (ABA type), for example Atlox 4912 (also by Uniqema).

Furthermore also unless already otherwise stated above:

fatty acid polyoxyethylene esters such as lauryl alcohol polyoxyethyleneether acetate,

alkyl polyoxyethylene ethers or alkyl polyoxypropylene ethers, forexample of isotridecyl alcohol and fatty acid alcohol polyoxyethyleneethers,

alkylaryl alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers such as octylphenolpolyoxyethylene ether,

tributylphenol polyoxyethylene ether,

ethoxylated isooctylphenol, octylphenol or nonylphenol or castor oil,

sorbitol esters,

arylsulfonic acids, alkylsulfonic acids, alkylsulfuric acids,

alkali, alkaline earth and ammonium salts of arylsulfonic acids, forexample lignin-, phenol-, naphthaline- and dibutylnaphthaline sulfonicacids, alkylsulfonic acids, alkylarylsulfonic acids, alkylsulfuricacids, lauryl ether sulfuric acids and fatty alcohol sulfuric acids,fatty acids, sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanols and fatty alcoholglycol ethers,

condensates of sulfonated naphthaline and its derivatives withformaldehyde,

condensates of naphthaline sulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde,and

protein hydrolyzates.

The wetters can amount to 0 to 40, preferably 2 to 30% by weight in theformulation.

Suitable antifoams are aliphatic or aromatic monoalcohols having 4 to14, preferably 6 to 10, carbon atoms, such as n-octanol or n-decanol, orsilicone oil emulsions, or silicone oils and/or their derivatives.

Usually, the antifoams amount to 0.01 to 5 and especially 0.1 to 3% byweight in the formulation.

Examples of suitable organic solvents and cosolvents are mineral oils,naturally occurring oils such as rapeseed oil, soya oil and the methylesters of the carboxylic acids on which these oils are based, such asmethyl oleate and rapeseed oil methyl ester, fatty acid esters,especially with C₁-C₄-alkanols, and organic solvents such as benzenes ornaphthalines which are substituted by straight-chain or branched alkylgroups (Shellsol 150R, Shellsol 200R and Solvesso® brands), aliphatichydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, alcohols such as butanolor glycol or their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methylethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, polar solvents,for example amides such as dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone orN-octylpyrrolidone, or dimethyl sulfoxide.

The solvents and/or cosolvents can amount to 0 to 60 and especially 5 to30% by weight in the formulation.

In addition, the mixture can comprise one or more carboxylic acids with4 to 20, in particular 6 to 18 carbon atoms such as oleic acid or2-ethylhexanoic acid and/or one or more of the dicarboxylic acids onwhich the compounds I are based, for example adipic acid, sebacic acid,succinic acid or fruit acids such as, for example, citric acid.

These mono- or polycarboxylic acids amount to 0 to 30, preferably 0 to10% by weight in the formulation.

Suitable thickeners are, in particular, thixotropic additives, whichimpart pseudoplastic flow characteristics to the formulation, i.e. highviscosity in the state of rest and low viscosity in the state ofmovement. Examples of suitable compounds are polysaccharides, such asxanthan gum, Kelzan by Kelco or Rhodopol 23 by Rhone Poulenc. Thethickeners are employed in an amount of 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably0.05 to 3% by weight and in particular 0.1 to 2% by weight based on thetotal weight of the formulation.

Preservatives which can be employed are customary compounds such asalkyl para-hydroxybenzoates and bacteriosides such as Proxel (commercialproduct by ICI), Nipacide BIT 20 (commercial product by Thor-Chemie),Kathon MK and Acticide (commercial products by Rohm & Haas). Stabilizerswhich can be used are organic acids, such as acetic acid or citric acid.In general, the preservative or stabilizer amounts in each case to 0 to5% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 4% by weight, in the formulation.

Component d):

The mixtures or formulations according to the invention can beformulated without active ingredient for the treatment of plants. Inthis case, they take the form of stand-alone products, i.e. the mixtureor the formulation and the active ingredient(s) for the treatment ofplants, are sold to the user in separate packages. The advantage for theuser is that he can choose the dosage of the active ingredient quantity,or active ingredient quantities, and that residues of the mixture or theformulation can also be used somewhere else.

The formulations according to the invention can also comprise at leastone active ingredient for the treatment of plants, in which case theyare present as built-in products. In this case, the amount of activeingredient is preferably in the range of 2 to 70% by weight, inparticular 5 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of theformulation. The active ingredient can be selected from amongherbicides, fungicides, insecticides, akaricides, nematicides, and plantgrowth regulators.

The herbicidal crop protection products comprise one or more herbicidalplant protectants, for example from among the following:

1,3,4-Thiadiazoles such as buthidazole and cyprazole, amides such asallidochlor, benzoylpropethyl, bromobutide, chlorthiamid, dimepiperate,dimethenamid, diphenamid, etobenzanid, flamprop-methyl, fosamin,isoxaben, monalide, naptalame, pronamid, propanil, amino phosphoricacids such as bilanafos, buminafos, glufosinate-ammonium, glyphosate,sulfosate, aminotriazoles such as amitrole, anilides such as anilofos,mefenacet, aryloxyalkanoic acids such as 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, clomeprop,dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, dichlorprop-P, fenoprop, fluroxypyr, MCPA,MCPB, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, napropamide, napropanilide, triclopyr,benzoic acids such as chloramben, dicamba, benzothiadiazinones such asbentazone, bleachers such as clomazone, diflufenican, fluorochloridone,flupoxam, fluridone, pyrazolate, sulcotrione, carbamates such ascarbetamide, chlorbufam, chlorpropham, desmedipham, phenmedipham,vernolate, quinoline carboxylic acids such as quinclorac, quinmerac,dichloropropionic acids such as dalapon, dihydrobenzofurans such asethofumesate, dihydrofuran-3-ones such as flurtamone, dinitroanilinessuch as benefin, butralin, dinitramin, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin,isopropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prodiamine, profluralin,trifluralin, dinitrophenols such as bromofenoxim, dinoseb, dinosebacetate, dinoterb, DNOC, minoterb acetate, diphenyl ethers such asacifluorfen sodium, aclonifen, bifenox, chlornitrofen, difenoxuron,ethoxyfen, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fomesafen, furyloxyfen,lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, oxyfluorfen, dipyridyls such ascyperquat, difenzoquat methylsulfate, diquat, paraquat dichloride,imidazoles such as isocarbamid, imidazolinones such as imazamethapyr,imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethabenz-methyl, imazethapyr, oxadiazoles suchas methazole, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxiranes such as tridiphane,phenols such as bromoxynil, ioxynil, phenoxyphenoxypropionic esters suchas clodinafop, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop methyl, fenoxaprop ethyl,fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, fenthiapropethyl, fluazifop butyl,fluazifop-p-butyl, haloxyfop ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop methyl,haloxyfop-p-methyl, isoxapyrifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop ethyl,quizalofop-p-ethyl, quizalofop-tefuryl, phenylacetic acids such aschlorfenac, phenylpropionic acids such as chlorophenprop-methyl, ppiactive ingredients such as benzofenap, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin,flumipropyn, flupropacil, pyrazoxyfen, sulfentrazone, thidiazimine,pyrazols such as nipyraclofen, pyridazines such as chloridazon, maleichydrazide, norflurazon, pyridate, pyridinecarboxylic acids such asclopyralid, dithiopyr, picloram, thiazopyr, pyrimidyl ethers such aspyrithiobac-acid, pyrithiobac-sodium, KIH-2023, KIH-6127, sulfonamidessuch as flumetsulam, metosulam, triazolecarboxamides such astriazofenamid, uraciles such as bromacil, lenacil, terbacil, furthermorebenazolin, benfuresate, bensulide, benzofluor, butamifos, cafenstrole,chlorthal-dimethyl, cinmethylin, dichlobenil, endothall, fluorbentranil,mefluidide, perfluidone, piperophos.

Preferred herbicidal plant protectants are those of the sulfonylureatype, such as amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl,chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron,ethametsulfuron-methyl, flazasulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl,imazosulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, primisulfuron,prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl,thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl,triflusulfuron-methyl.

Herbicidal plant protectants which are furthermore preferred are thoseof the cyclohexenone type, such as alloxydim, clethodim, cloproxydim,cycloxydim, sethoxydim and tralkoxydim.

Very especially preferred herbicidal plant protectants of thecyclohexenone type are: tepraloxydim (cf. AGROW, No. 243, 3.11.95, page21, caloxydim) and2-(1-[2-{4-chlorophenoxy}propyloxyimino]butyl)-3-hydroxy-5-(2H-tetrahydrothiopyran-3-yl)-2-cyclohexen-1-one,and very especially preferred herbicidal plant protectants of thesulfonylurea type are:N-(((4-methoxy-6-[trifluoromethyl]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino)carbonyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonamide.

The fungicidal compositions comprise one or more fungicidal activeingredients, for example one or more of the following: sulfur,dithiocarbamates and their derivatives, such as ferricdimethyldithiocarbamate, zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, zincethylenebisdithiocarbamate, manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate,manganese zinc ethylenediaminebisdithiocarbamate, tetramethylthiuramdisulfide, ammonia complex of zinc (N,N-ethylenebisdithiocarbamate),ammonia complex of zinc (N,N′-propylenebisdithiocarbamate), zinc(N,N′-propylenebisdithiocarbamate), N,N′-polypropylenebis(thiocarbamoyl)disulfide;

Nitro derivatives such as dinitro-(1-methylheptyl)phenyl crotonate,2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate,2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl isopropylcarbonate, diisopropyl5-nitroisophthalate;

Heterocyclic substances such as 2-heptadecyl-2-imidazoline acetate,2,4-dichloro-6-(o-chloroanilino)-s-triazine, O,O-diethylphthalimidophosphonothioate,5-amino-1-[bis(dimethylamino)phosphinyl]-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole,2,3-dicyano-1,4-dithioanthraquinone,2-thio-1,3-dithiolo[4,5-b]quinoxaline, methyl1-(butylcarbamoyl)-2-benzimidazolecarbamate,2-methoxycarbonylaminomethyl benzimidazole, 2-(fur-2-yl)benzimidazole,2-(thiazol-4-yl)benzimidazole,N-(1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylthio)tetrahydrophthalimide,N-trichloromethylthiotetrahydrophthalimide,N-trichloromethylthiophthalimide,N-Dichlorofluoromethylthio-N′,N′-dimethyl-N-phenylsulfuric diamide,5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,3-thiadiazole,2-thiocyanatomethylthiobenzothiazole, 1,4-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene,4-(2-chlorophenylhydrazono)-3-methyl-5-isoxazolone, 2-thiopyridin1-oxide, 8-hydroxyquinoline and its copper salt,2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiine,2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiin 4,4-dioxide,2-methyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-pyran-3-carboxanilide,2-methylfuran-3-carboxanilide, 2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxanilide,2,4,5-trimethylfuran-3-carboxanilide,2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxcyclohexylamide,N-cyclohexyl-N-methoxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxamide,2-methylbenzanilide, 2-iodobenzanilide,N-formyl-N-morpholine-2,2,2-trichloroethyl acetal,piperazine-1,4-diylbis-(1-(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)formamide,1-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-1-formylamino-2,2,2-trichloroethane,2,6-dimethyl-N-tridecylmorpholine and its salts,2,6-dimethyl-N-cyclododecylmorpholine and its salts,N-[3-(p-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]cis-2,6-dimethylmorpholine,N-[3-(p-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]piperidine,1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-ethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,N-(n-propyl)-N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyethyl)-N′-imidazolylurea,1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-buta none,1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-buta nole,(2RS,3RS)-1-[3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl-methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,α-(2-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-pyrimidinemethanol,5-butyl-2-dimethylamino-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidine,bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinemethanol,1,2-bis-(3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)benzene,1,2-bis-(3-methoxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)benzene,

Strobilurins such as methylE-methoxyimino-[α-(o-tolyloxy)-o-tolyl]acetate, methylE-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy]phenyl}-3-methoxyacry late,methyl E-methoxyimino-[α-(2-phenoxyphenyl)]acetamide, methylE-methoxyimino-[α-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-o-tolyl]acetamide,

Anilinopyrimidines such as N-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)anilin,N-[4-methyl-6-(1-propinyl)pyrimidin-2-yl]anilin,N-[4-methyl-6-cyclopropylpyrimidin-2-yl]anilin,

Phenylpyrroles such as4-(2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile,

Cinnamides such as3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acryloylmorpholine,

and a variety of fungicides such as dodecylguanidine acetate,3-[3-(3,5-dimethyl-2-oxycyclohexyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]glutarimide,hexachlorobenzene, methylN-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-2-furoyl)-DL-alaninate,DL-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(2′-methoxyacetyl)-alanine methyl ester,N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-chloroacetyl-D,L-2-aminobutyrolactone,DL-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(phenylacetyl)-alanine methyl ester,5-methyl-5-vinyl-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-dioxo-1,3-oxazolidine,3-[3,5-dichlorophenyl(-5-methyl-5-methoxymethyl]-1,3-oxazolidine2,4-dione, 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-isopropylcarbamoylhydantoin,N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboximide,2-cyano-[N-(ethylaminocarbonyl)-2-methoximino]acetamide,1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)pentyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,2,4-difluoro-α-(1H-1,2,4-triazolyl-1-methyl)benzhydryl alcohol,N-(3-chloro-2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-trifluormethyl-3-chloro-2-aminopyridine,1-((bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methylsilyl)methyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole.

Growth regulators which can be used are, for example, the group of thegibberellins. These include, for example, the gibberellins GA₁, GA₃,GA₄, GA₅ and GA₇ and the like and the correspondingexo-16,17-dihydrogibberellins and their derivatives, for example theesters with C₁-C₄-carboxylic acids. Preferred in accordance with theinvention is exo-16,17-dihydro-GA₅-13-acetate.

The formulations according to the invention can be present asemulsifiable concentrate (EC), suspoemulsion (SE), oil-in-water emulsion(O/W), water-in-oil emulsion (W/O), aqueous suspension concentrate, oilsuspension concentrate (SC), microemulsion (ME), and the like. Theformulations take the form of aqueous or nonaqueous liquid formulations,the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters acting as solvents for the organicconstituents, in particular the active ingredients, or as inertdiluents. Anhydrous formulations have the advantage that, owing to theaprotic character of the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters, even thoseactive ingredients can be employed where there is the risk of hydrolyticdegradation upon storage in the case of aqueous formulations.

Besides the active ingredients, emulsifiable concentrates comprise anoil phase which is formed at least in part by thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester. The oil phase can also comprise furthersolvents and cosolvents as mentioned in connection with the oil SCformulations. Furthermore, the emulsifiable concentrates generallycomprise emulsifiers and adjuvants such as stabilizers, antifoams andthe like. In general, the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester is present inan amount of from 0.1 to 40% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight,based on emulsifiable concentrate. The emulsifiable concentrates areprepared in the customary manner by mixing the constituentshomogeneously. If appropriate, the active ingredients or adjuvants canbe used as liquid preconcentrates in suitable solvents.

In the case of aqueous suspension concentrates, a water-soluble activeingredient is suspended in water at a high concentration. In general,they comprise 40 to 80% by weight of active ingredient, 0.5 to 2% byweight of wetter, 2 to 5% by weight of dispersant and, if appropriate,0.1 to 1% by weight of thickener, based on the total weight of theformulation. For their preparation, a procedure is generally followed inwhich the active ingredient, which is ground to a mean particle size ofapproximately 1 to 5 mm, is dispersed in the mixture of the remainingcomponents with the aid of customary methods. Approximately 1 toapproximately 10% by weight (based on the total weight of theformulation) of cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester is incorporated beforeor after dispersion of the active ingredient.

Oil SC formulations generally comprise 10 to 70% by weight, inparticular 30 to 60% by weight, of at least one active ingredient, 10 to85% by weight, in particlar 20 to 60% by weight, of a largely anhydrousoil phase (up to a maximum of 1% by weight of water), and 5 to 40% byweight, in particular 7.5 to 25% by weight, of at least one surfactant,in particular of an anionic surfactant, and, if appropriate, furtheradjuvants (in each case based on the total weight of the formulation).The active ingredient is distributed in the oil phase in finely disperseform. The oil phase is formed at least in part by thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester. In general, the oil phase comprises 20to 100% by weight, in particular 40 to 100% by weight, ofcyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester. If the oil phase comprises 100% byweight of cyclohexanecarboxylic ester, it can additionally comprise atleast one of the following constituents:

a) a C₈- to C₃₀-hydrocarbon of the n- or iso-alkane series or a mixtureof these. Examples of such hydrocarbons are n- and iso-octane, -decane,-hexadecane, -octadecane, -eicosane, and preferably hydrocarbon mixturessuch as liquid paraffin (which, if technical-grade, may comprise up toapproximately 5% of aromatics) and a C₁₈-C₂₄-mixture, which iscommercially available from Exxon under the name Spraytex oil.

b) Aromatic or cycloaliphatic C₇- to C₁₈-hydrocarbon compounds or amixture of these. They include, in particular, aromatic orcycloaliphatic solvents from the series of the alkyl-aromatics; thecompounds can be unhydrogenated, partially hydrogenated or fullyhydrogenated. These solvents of component b) include, in particular,mono-, di- or trialkylbenzenes, mono-, di-, or trialkyl-substitutedtetralins and/or mono-, di-, tri- or tetraalkyl-substituted naphthalines(alkyl is preferably C₁-C₆-alkyl). Examples of such solvents aretoluene, o-, m-, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene,tert-butylbenzene and mixtures, as the Exxon-products sold under thename Shellsol and Solvesso, for example Solvesso 100, 150 and 200.

c) an aliphatic ester which is selected in particular from among thegroup consisting of aliphatic esters, araliphatic esters and naturalfats and oils, and derivatives and mixtures of these. Suitablesubstances are esters of aliphatic, saturated or unsaturatedC₁-C₂₀-mono- and C₂-C₂₀-dicarboxylic acids with C₁-C₂₀-alkanols andphenyl-C₁-C₂₀-alkanols, the total of the carbon atoms being at least 8.Also suitable are esters of aromatic mono- and dicarboxylic acids, suchas benzoic acid and phthalic acid, with C₁-C₂₀-alkanols andphenyl-C₁-C₂₀-alkanols. Preferred are methyl oleate, di-n-octyl andisooctyl adipate, octyl laurate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexonoate, methyloleate, n-butyl stearate, di-n-butyl adipate, di-n-nonyl and isononyladipate, rapeseed oil methyl and ethyl ester, n-butyl benzoate, benzylbenzoate and the like.

The abovementioned natural or unprocessed fats or oils or derivatives ofthese (modified natural fats or oils) include, for example, materialssuch as soya oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil and theirraffinates.

To prepare oil SC formulations, solid active ingredients are ground withwetters and dispersants and, if appropriate, further adjuvants oradditives in suitable devices to a mean particle size of ≦10 μm. To thisend, customary devices are used, such as bowl mills or stirred bowlmills together with milling elements, for example milling elements madeof glass, minerals or metals. A particularly suitable device is theDyno-mill by Bachofen, which allows to carry out the passage process.After, as a rule, 5 passages (the slurry being pumped through the millwith the aid of a roller pump), mean particle sizes in the region of 1to 10 μm are generally achieved. Grinding is generally carried out at atemperature in the range of 0 to 30° C.

The cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters together with the other componentsare subsequently stirred into the resulting oil SC preconcentrate. Tothis end, customary devices are used, such as conventional mixers anddispersers, in particular annular mills of the rotor-stator type.

In the case of oil SC formulations, the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esterserves to enhance the activity and, in the case of aqueous SCformulations, to stabilize the formulation.

Suspoemulsions comprise both a solid and a liquid active ingredientdispersed in an aqueous phase. The liquid active ingredient may also bea solution of an oil-soluble active ingredient in an oil phase. Inaccordance with the invention, the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esterconstitutes at least part of this oil phase. In addition to thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester, the oil phase may also comprise atleast one of the oil components mentioned above in connection with oilSC formulations.

Suspoemulsions generally comprise 30 to 60% by weight of activeingredients (total active ingredients), 1 to 20% by weight of an oilphase, 2 to 10% by weight of wetters and dispersants, 0.1 to 0.5% byweight of antifoam, 0.1 to 5% by weight of thickener and, ifappropriate, further adjuvants, in each case based on the total weightof the suspoemulsion. The aqueous phase counts for the remainder of theformulation.

The active ingredient which is present in solid form in thesuspoemulsion must be essentially insoluble in the oil phase and in theaqueous phase. In contrast, the active ingredient dissolved in the oilphase must be essentially insoluble in the aqueous phase.

In general, suspoemulsions are prepared starting from the SCpreconcentrates. The SC preconcentrates are typically adjustedrheologically by adding thickeners. A further oil phase with at leastone further active ingredient is subsequently incorporated. This is donein the customary manner, for example by vigorously stirring or by usingdissolvers or annular mills.

In the case of the O/W and the W/O emulsions, thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters form at least part of the oil phase.Such emulsions generally comprise 20 to 60% by weight of activeingredient, 1 to 10% by weight of emulsifiers, 0.1 to 0.5% by weight ofantifoams, 0.1 to 5% by weight of thickeners and, if appropriate,further adjuvants, in each case based on the total weight of theemulsion.

To prepare emulsions (O/W, W/O emulsions or multiple fluidformulations), separate preconcentrates of aqueous and nonaqueous phasesare first prepared. The viscosity of the aqueous phases is generallyincreased by adding thickeners. The oil phase is subsequentlyincorporated into the aqueous phase or the aqueous phase is subsequentlyincorporated into the oil phase, using severe shear. To achieve thesevere shear, the mixture is stirred vigorously, or shearingapparatuses, such as rotor-stator mills or aperture plates. Normally,pressure differentials may also be exploited in order to obtain highproportions of fine particles and storage-stable formulations.

In the case of microemulsions, an oil phase with a mean particle size inthe range of 1 to 50 nm is dispersed in an aqueous phase. The oil phaseis formed at least in part by the cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester. Inaddition, the oil phase may also comprise the oil components statedabove in connection with oil SC formulations. The active ingredient(s)are dissolved in the oil phase. In general, the microemulsions comprise20 to 70% by weight of oil phase (including the active ingredient), 0.5to 30% by weight of surfactants, 0.1 to 20% by weight of cosurfactants,30 to 70% by weight of water and, if appropriate, further adjuvants, ineach case based on the total weight. Microemulsions form spontaneouslyupon mixing of the components. However, it is expedient to mix the oilphase with the surfactants and cosurfactants and then to slowly mix theaqueous phase into the product.

In the case of EC and ME formulations, the formulations according to theinvention can be provided as stand-alone products, i.e. the activeingredient (if appropriate together with some of the remainingcomponents) and the remaining components are sold to the consumer inseparately packaged form. This has the advantage that the quantity ofactive ingredient can be chosen as desired. Before they are used, thecrop protection products according to the invention are processed by theuser, generally the farmer, with water in a manner known per se to givethe finished spray mixture. In particular, the parts of the combipackare first mixed for this purpose, and the resulting herbicidalcomposition is subsequently diluted with water to the desiredconcentration.

Normally, the sprayable mixtures comprise 0.0001 to 10, preferably 0.001to 1, and in particular 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of the plant protectantand 0.001 to 50, preferably 0.01 to 5 and in particular 0.1 to 0.5% byweight of the mixture according to the invention.

The spray mixtures can be applied in a manner know per se, especially byspraying with a mobile sprayer using nozzles for ultra-finedistribution. The skilled worker is familiar with the equipment andtechniques furthermore required for doing this.

The advantage of the formulations according to the invention is that theapplication rates of active ingredients and formulation auxiliaries arereduced and the activity is improved. Moreover, thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters are advantageous with regard to theirtoxicology. Experiments have shown that, in contrast to customarypolycarboxylic esters, they lead to no biologically significantproliferation of peroxisomes. Moreover, the cyclohexanepolycarboxylicesters are low-odor and their odor is not offensive.

The examples which follow illustrate the invention without imposing anylimitation. A di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, whose alcoholcomponent had been obtained by butene dimerization, hydroformylation andhydration by the process stated hereinbelow, was used for the examples:

1) Butene Dimerization

The butene dimerization was carried out continuously in an adiabaticreactor composed of two separate reactors (length: 4 m each, diameter:80 cm each) with intermediate cooling at 30 bar. The starting materialused was a raffinate II of the following composition:

Isobutane  2% by weight n-Butane 10% by weight iso-Butene  2% by weight1-Butene 32% by weight trans-2-Butene 37% by weight cis-2-Butene 17% byweight

The catalyst used was a catalyst in accordance with DE-A 43 39 713,composed of 50% by weight NiO, 12.5% by weight TiO₂, 33.5% by weightSiO₂ and 4% by weight Al₂O₃ in the form of 5×5 mm tablets. The reactionwas carried out with a throughput of 0.375 kg of raffinate II/lcatalyst·h, a recirculation ratio of unreacted C₄-hydrocarbons to freshraffinate II of 3, an intake temperature at reactor 1 of 38° C. and anintake temperature at reactor 2 of 60° C. The conversion rate based onthe butenes present in raffinate II was 83.1%. The octene fraction wasseparated from unreacted raffinate II and the high-boiling components byfractional distillation of the reactor discharge.

2) Hydroformylation and Hydrogenation

750 g of the octene mixture prepared as described in 1) were reactedbatchwise in an autoclave with 0.13% by weight of dicobalt octacarbonyl(Co₂(CO)₈) as catalyst with addition of 75 g of water at 185° C. andunder a synthesis gas pressure of 280 bar at a mixing ratio of H₂ to COof 60:40 5 h. The consumption of synthesis gas, which can be seen from apressure drop in the autoclave, is compensated for by injecting moregas. After the pressure in the autoclave had been released, the reactionmaterial was freed oxidatively from the cobalt catalyst using 10% byweight of acetic acid and passing in air, and the organic product phasewas hydrogenated for 10 hours with Raney nickel at 125° C. and ahydrogen pressure of 280 bar. The isononanol fraction was separated fromthe C₈-paraffins and the high-boiling components by fractionaldistillation of the reaction material.

The composition of the isononanol fraction was analyzed by gaschromatography. Previously, a sample was trimethylsilylated for 60minutes at 80° C. with 1 ml ofN-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide per 100 ml of sample. Aseparating column of the Hewlett Packard Ultra 1 50 m in length, aninternal diameter of 0.32 mm and a film thickness of 0.2 μm wasemployed. The injector and detector temperatures were 250° C., while theoven temperature was 120° C. The split was 110 ml/min. The carrier gaswas nitrogen. The pre-pressure had been set to 200 kPa. 1 ml of thesample was injected and detected by means of FID. In this way, thefollowing sample composition was determined (gas chromatographypercentage areas):

11.0% 1-nonanol 20.8% 6-methyl-l-octanol 20.5% 4-methyl-l-octanol  5.3%2-methyl-l-octanol 11.0% 2,5-Dimethyl-l-heptanol  8.7%3-ethyl-l-heptanol  6.2% 4,5-Dimethyl-l-heptanol  2.9%2-ethyl-1-heptanol  2.8% 2,3-Dimethyl-l-heptanol  3.0%2-ethyl-4-methyl-l-hexanol  2.7% 2-propyl-l-hexanol  1.6%3-ethyl-4-methyl-hexanol Remainder to 100% other alkanols with 9 carbonatoms.

Measurements revealed a density of this nonanol mixture of 0.8326 at 20°C. and a refractive index n_(D) ²⁰ of 1.4353. The boiling range was 204to 209° C. under atmospheric pressure.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of an Aqueous Suspension Concentrate

300 g of water, 80 g of propylene glycol, 25 g of Wettol Dl (sodium saltof a condensate of phenolsulfonic acid, urea and formaldehyde; BASF AG),50 g of Pluronic PE 10500 (propylene oxide/ethylene oxide block polymer;BASF AG) and 500 g of epoxiconazol are mixed. The mixture is ground in astirred bowl mill until 80% of the particles have the size of <2 μm. 1 gof Silicon SRE (antifoam; Wacker Chemie), 1 g of Kathon MK (preservativebased on 4-isothiazolin-3-one; Rohm & Haas) and 2.5 g of xanthan gum aresubsequently added. The mixture is made up to 1000 ml with water,stirred for another 3 hours and screened through a 150 μm screen. Thisgives a premix concentrate with 500 g/l epoxiconazole.

390 ml of water are added to 250 ml of this concentrate, and a mixtureof 250 g of the above cyclohexanedicarboxylic ester together with 10 gof Atlox 4914 (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether; Uniquema) and 20 g of AtlasG500 (modified polyester surfactant; Uniquema) are added to the mixturewith stirring. Complete emulsification of the organic phase is achievedby passage over a rotor-stator mill (PUC mill). 100% of the particles ofthe resulting dispersion have a size of <16 μm. The dispersion isstorage-stable (4-week rapid storage test at 50° C.).

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of a Suspension Concentrate

Similarly to example 1, 1280 ml of water and a mixture of 167 g of theabove cyclohexanedicarboxylic ester, 250 g of ethylene oxide/propyleneoxid block copolymer (Pluronic 6400; BASF AG), 10 g of Atlox 4914 and 20g of Atlas G5000 are added to 250 ml of the premix concentrate. Thecomponents are mixed by stirring and the resulting dispersion ishomogenized by passage through a rotor-stator mill (PUC mill). 100% ofthe particles of the resulting dispersion have a size of <9 μm. Thedispersion is storage-stable (4-week rapid storage test at 50° C.).

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of a Suspoemulsion

250 g of fenpropimorph, 67 g of ethylene oxide/propylene oxide blockcopolymer (Pluronic 10500; BASF AG) and 30 g of the abovecyclohexanedicarboxylic ester are mixed. The mixture is stirred togetherwith 264 ml of the premix concentrate as described in example 1), 430 mlof water, 15 g of Wettol Dl and 10 g of Pluronic PE10500. After a singlepassage through a rotor-stator mill (PUC mill), a stable suspoemulsionis obtained (4-week rapid storage test at 50° C.).

We claim:
 1. An agrotechnical formulation comprising, in each case basedon the total weight of the formulation, a) 20 to 99.9% by weight of atleast one cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester of the formula I

 in which R¹ is C₁-C₁₀-alkyl or C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; andn is 2, 3 or 4; and R is H or C₁-C₃₀-alkyl, where at least one radical Ris C₁-C₃₀-alkyl; b) 0 to 70% by weight of water; c) 0.1 to 60% by weightof at least one adjuvant and/or additive; and d) 2 to 70% by weight ofat least one active ingredient for plant treatment, with the provisothat products obtainable by reacting an oil or fat based on atriglyceride of carboxylic acids having 2 to 30 carbon atom withethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide in the presence of bases are notpresent in the formulation.
 2. The formulation defined in claim 1,wherein (a) is di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate or is acombination of di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate and at leastone further cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester of formula I.
 3. Aformulation as claimed in claim 1, comprising 16 to 70% by weight ofwater.
 4. A formulation as claimed in claim 1, where thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester is selected from among ring-hydrogenatedmono- and di-C₁-C₃₀-alkyl esters of phthalic acid, isophthalic acid andterephthalic acid, ring-hydrogenated mono-, di- and tri-C₁-C₃₀-alkylesters of trimellitic acid, trimesic acid and hemimellitic acid, andring-hydrogenated mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-C₁-C₃₀-alkyl esters ofpyromellitic acid.
 5. A formulation as claimed in claim 4, where thecyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester is selected from among: Di(isopentyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingdi(isopentyl)phthalate with the Chemical Abstracts Registry Number(hereinbelow: CAS No.) 84777-06-0; Di(isoheptyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingdi(isoheptyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 71888-89-6; Di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenating adi(isononyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 68515-48-0; Di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenating ann-butene-based di(isononyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 28553-12-0;Di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatingan isobutene-based di(isononyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 28553-12-0; a1,2-di-C₉-alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable byhydrogenating a di(nonyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 68515-46-8; adi(isodecyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenatinga di(isodecyl)phthalate with the CAS No. 68515-49-1; a1,2-di-C₇₋₁₁-alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable byhydrogenating the corresponding phthalic ester with the CAS No.68515-42-4; a 1,2-di-C₇₋₁₁alkylester of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid,obtainable by hydrogenating the di-C₇₋₁₁-phthalates with the followingCAS Nos.: 111 381-89-6, 111 381 90-9, 111 381 91-0, 68515-44-6,68515-45-7 and 3648-20-7; a 1,2-di-C₉₋₁₁-alkylester ofcyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable by hydrogenating adi-C₉₋₁₁-phthalate with the CAS No. 98515-43-5; a di(isodecyl)cyclohexanedicarboxylate, obtainable by hydrogenating adi(isodecyl)phthalate, which is mainly composed ofdi-(2-propylheptyl)phthalate; a 1,2-di-C₇₋₁₁-alkylester ofcyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, obtainable by hydrogenating thecorresponding phthalic ester which has branched or linear C₇₋₉-alkylester groups.
 6. A formulation as claimed in claim 4, comprising, ascyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester, a di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate.
 7. An agrotechnical formulationcomprising, in each case based on the total weight of the formulation,a) 20 to 99.9% by weight of at least one cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esterof the formula I

 in which R¹ is C₁-C₁₀-alkyl or C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; nis 2, 3 or 4; and R is H or C₁-C₃₀-alkyl, where at least one radical Ris C₁-C₃₀-alkyl; b) 0 to 70% by weight of water; c) 0.1 to 60% by weightof at least one adjuvant and/or additive, where non-ionic surfactantsare selected from among glycerol esters, fatty alcohol alkoxylates andoxo-alcohol alkoxylates, alkylphenolalkoxylates; fatty aminealkoxylates,fatty acid amide alkoxylates, sugar surfactants, polyoxyethylenesorbitan fatty acid esters, alkyl polyglycosides, N-alkylgluconamides,alkylmethyl sulfoxides and alkyldimethylphosphine oxides; and d) 2 to70% by weight of at least one active ingredient for plant treatment. 8.A method for preparing an agrotechnical formulation which comprisesmixing i) at least one formulation auxiliary and ii) an effective amountof di(isononyl) cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate, optionally in combinationwith at least one further cyclohexanepolycarboxylic ester of formula I

 in which R¹ is C₁-C₁₀-alkyl or C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; andn is 2, 3 or 4; and R is H or C₁-C₃₀-alkyl, where at least one radical Ris C₁-C₃₀-alkyl.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein (ii) is applied in anamount of from 20 to 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of theformulation.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein (i) comprises, in eachcase based on the total weight of the formulation from 0 to 70% byweight of water; and from 0.1 tot 60% by weight of at least one adjuvantand/or additive.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein (i) furthercomprises from 2 to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of theformulation, of at least tone active ingredient for plant treatment.